Adjustable safety rail barricade for roofs

ABSTRACT

A post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade is comprised of a universal flat attachment base plate to which a post is secured. The post support has a post connector pivotally connected to a guide bracket. The post connector has an open top end to receive a post therein in a detachably securable fashion. The flat attachment base plate has a pair of opposed side connecting arms disposed on opposed sides of a central connecting arm. At least two spaced-apart incline slots are provided in the side and central connecting arms and are all inclined in a common direction and at a common angle and have a lower open end. The inclined slots in the side connecting arms are spaced apart at predetermined distance. Preferably, but not exclusively, the post support is for a safety rail barricade to be used by roofers.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade, particularly, but not exclusively, for use by roofers and connected along edges of a roof to provide safety to people working on the roof.

BACKGROUND ART

Barricades of all sorts and particularly rail barricades are well known in the art and these have many uses whereby to restrict entry into particular areas or to provide protection about dangerous spaces such as elevated spaces, namely roofs of tall buildings, observatory platforms, etc. Many of these structures are bulky, difficult to transport, expensive to fabricate and often non stable thereby not offering proper protection. For people working on roofs, such as roofing material installers or roof repair personnel, it is often required that these people be provided with harnesses which are tied with ropes and this makes it difficult for this personnel to displace themselves freely when working on such elevated structures. The harnesses and ropes also provide obstacles to the worker and are often the cause of injury. Therefore, there is a need to provide a safety barricade which is easy to erect, safe, lightweight and easily displaceable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade which provides the above-mentioned needs and which overcomes several disadvantages of known prior art safety rail barricades.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade which can be installed along peripheral edges of roofs or elevated platforms.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade which is lightweight, easy to erect and which is easily displaceable in short periods of time and which provides safety to people working on such elevated surfaces.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade for use by roofers or other people having to work on elevated surface areas and wherein the post support assembly is adjustable to different pitches of these surfaces.

According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides a post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade. The post support assembly is comprised of a universal flat attachment base plate. A post support assembly is secured to the flat attachment base plate. The post support assembly has a post connector pivotally connected to a guide bracket. The post connector has an open top end to receive a post therein. Means is provided to detachably secure the post in the open top end. The flat attachment base plate has a pair of opposed side connecting arms disposed on opposed sides of a central connecting arm. At least two spaced-apart incline slots are provided in each of the side and central connecting arms and are all inclined at a common angle and extend is a common direction. The slots have a lower open end. The inclined slots in the side connecting arms are spaced apart at predetermined distance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a fragmented perspective view showing safety rail barricades secured along a lower edge and an inclined side edge of a pitched roof and using the post support assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the construction of the post support assembly with a barricade post removably secured thereto;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the construction of the post connector;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partly fragmented, of a corner of a pitched roof showing the post support assembly of the present invention secured on an inclined portion along an outer side edge of a pitched roof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmented view showing the post support assembly and an adjustable safety rail barricade constructed in accordance with the present invention and secured to a flat roof or elevated platform; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the post support assembly secured to a side edge of a flat roof or elevated platform.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 there is shown generally at 10 an adjustable safety rail barricade constructed with a post support assembly 11 of the present invention. As herein shown there are three post support assemblies 11 secured along an outer side edge 12 of a pitched roof 13 and another adjustable rail barricade 10′ secured to further post support assemblies 11 secured along a lower edge 14 of the pitched roof 13. In this particular illustration the safety rail barricade is to provide safety to roofers who install roof shingles 15 on the roof 13. An entry 16 provides an opening for the roofer to have access to the pitched roof 13. Accordingly, protection is provided to the roofer in his working area particularly when working along the edges of the roof where there is the most danger.

As shown in FIG. 1 the safety rail barricade 10 is comprised of at least two of the post support assemblies each having a post 17 secured thereto and supporting a pair of safety rails or planks 18 therebetween.

With reference now to FIG. 2 there is shown the construction of the post support assembly of the present invention. It is comprised of a universal flat attachment base plate 20. A post support 21 is secured to the flat attachment base plate 20 and has a post connector 22 pivotally connected to a guide bracket 23 by a pivot connection 24. The attachment base plate 20 is universal in that it can be secured on any flat surface extending in the x, y and z planes.

As shown in FIG. 3 the post connector 22 is a hollow tubular member which is herein shown as being of square cross section and has an open top end 25 to receive the post 17 therein. The post 17 is connected inside the post connector by a securing pin 27. The securing pin 27 extends through a hole 28 provided in opposed side walls 29 and 29′ of the post connector 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the guide bracket 23 is comprised by a pair of vertical guide flanges 30 and 30′ disposed parallel to one another and projecting transversely of the flat attachment base plate 20. The post connector is pivotally secured between these pairs of guide flanges 30 and 30′, as previously described. The guide flanges 30 and 30′ are each provided with an arcuate outer edge 31 and 31′ extending from the flat attachment base plate 20 to a right angle rear connecting wall 32. A plurality of equidistantly spaced serrations 33, which constitutes an arresting means for the post connector 22 are provided along the arcuate outer edges 31 and 31′ and in transverse alignment with one another to constitute spaced-apart pairs of serrations.

As better seen in FIG. 3 the post connector 22 is also provided with connector pins 34 projecting from opposed side walls 29 and 29′ thereof for removable engagement with selected ones of the pairs of serrations 33. In order to be able to do so a pair of opposed vertical slots 35 are provided in the opposed side walls 29 and 29′ of the post connector 22 for the passage of the pivot connecting pin 24 therethrough whereby to permit the post connector 22 to be lifted between the guide flanges 30 and 30′ to reposition the connector pin 34 in selected ones of the opposed pairs of serrations 33. Accordingly, the post connector 22 can be angulated with respect to the attachment base plate 20 along an arc which extends transversely to the base plate, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to a collapsed position which is substantially parallel to the attachment base plate, as will be described later.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 4 to 6 there will now be described the construction of the flat attachment base plate 20. This base plate may be stamped from a rigid metal sheet, or cut-out by laser or other means, and defines a pair of opposed side connecting arms 40 and 40′ lying on a common straight axis and disposed on opposed sides of a central connecting arm 41. At least two spaced-apart incline slots 42 are provided in the side and central connecting arms and are all inclined at a common angle and extend on a common direction. The slots have a lower open end 43. The incline slots 42 in the side connecting arms are spaced apart a predetermined distance from one another.

As shown in FIG. 2 the attachment base plate 20 is of triangular shape and defined by integrally formed side arms 40 and 40′, which are narrow rectangular arms and a pair of angled arms 44 and 44′. The arms 44 and 44′ extend at an angle from the opposed ends of the side connecting arms 40 and 40′ to an apex area of the triangular shaped base. The central connecting arm 41 is also a narrow rectangular arm and extends from the apex area 45 to between the side connecting arms 40 and 40′ and defines an extension portion 41′ which extends beyond the side connecting arms 40 and 40′, substantially centrally therebetween. The inclined slots 42′ of the central connecting arm 41 are provided in this extension portion 41′.

As herein shown the post support assembly 11 is connected to the central connecting arm 41 in the apex area with the pair of guide flanges 30 and 30′ extending from the apex area and along a portion of the central connecting arm 41. These guide flanges are welded to the central arm.

As also shown more clearly in FIG. 2, each of the posts 17 have one or more brackets 50 and 50′ for supporting rails 18 as previously described.

With particular reference now to FIG. 4 there is shown a post support assembly secured along the outer side edge 12 of the pitched roof 13. Because of the triangular shape of the attachment base plate, it can be secured to either of the opposed outer side edges 12 or 12′ of the roof 13 as shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 4 it is secured to the outer right side edge and therefore only one of the side connecting arms, namely arm 40 is secured to the roof sheeting material 13′. In this particular instance the side connecting arm 40 is secured on top of a row of asphalt shingle, namely row 51, by roofing nails 52 disposed in the inclined slots 42. These inclined slots 42 in the side connecting arms 40 and 40′ are spaced apart at predetermined distance which is substantially equal to the width of a roof shingle flap 53 wherein the roofing nails 52 can be concealed by the roof shingle flaps 53′ of an asphalt shingle 54 of a row of shingles secured thereabove. The roofer continues to install the post support assemblies to form a barricade along the roof side edge 12 and then the shingles are installed in the usual fashion. In order to disconnect the post support assembly 11 from the roof, it is merely necessary for the roofer to apply a hammer blow in the direction of arrow 55 (in the direction of the angled arm 44) on the post support assembly to cause it to be displaced from under the roofing nail heads 52 provided in the side connecting arm 40 and also provided in the extension portion 41′ of the central connecting arm 41. Once this is done the attachment base plate 20 can be withdrawn from under the shingles. The roofer then merely taps over the nail heads by lifting the shingles or over the shingle with a hammer to ensure that the roofing nails 52 are further driven into the asphalt shingles as they are slightly lifted due to the thickness of the base plate. By a hammer blow substantially at the position where nails are, which is centrally of the flaps 53 and 53′ and along the edge where the extension portion 41′ of the central connecting arm 41 was connected, the nails are driven in.

It is pointed out that when the attachment base plate 20 is secured to the other side edge 12′ of the pitched roof 13 that the side connecting arm 40′ is the one connected to the roof sheeting. Accordingly to disconnect the base plate 20 an impact has to be applied in the same direction of arrow 55 but this time it extends outwardly of the roof outer side edge 12′ instead of inwardly as shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4 because the post support assembly is secured to a pitched roof it is necessary to displace the post connector 22 between the guide flanges 30 whereby to position the post 17 substantially vertically and the weight of the post, including the rails 18, maintains the post connector 22 downwardly biased on a selected pair of serrations 33.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 there is shown the post support assembly secured over a flat elevated roof or platform 60 which is provided with an upper flat surface 61 and flat outer edges 62. As herein shown the attachment base plate 20 is secured on the top flat surface 61 adjacent the outer edges 63 of the flat roof or platform. The post connector 22 is angulated vertically of the top flat surface 61 at right angles to the attachment base plate 20 wherein to support the posts 17 vertically. The rails 18 are then assembled between a pair of posts 17.

As shown in FIG. 6 the post support assembly of the present invention 11 is herein shown connected to the flat outer end walls 62 by the attachment base plate 20 secured thereto by suitable fasteners 65 provided in the opposed side connecting arms 40 and 40′. The post connector 22 is herein shown angulated between the bottom pairs of serrations 33′ and lies substantially parallel to the base plate 20 wherein the support post extends transversely upward of the flat elevated roof or platform 60. Again the rails 18 are supported between adjacent ones of the posts 17.

It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obvious modifications over the preferred embodiments described herein, provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade comprising a universal flat attachment base plate, a post support secured to said flat attachment base plate, said post support having a post connector pivotally connected to a guide bracket, said post connector having an open top end to receive a post therein, means to detachably secure said post in said open top end, said flat attachment base plate having a pair of opposed side connecting arms disposed on opposed sides of a central connecting arm, at least two spaced-apart inclined slots in said side and central connecting arms all inclined at a common angle and extending in a common direction, said inclined slot having a lower open end, said inclined slots in said side connecting arms being spaced apart a predetermined distance.
 2. A post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide bracket is comprised by a pair of guide flanges disposed parallel to one another and projecting outwardly and transverse to said flat attachment base plate, said post connector being pivotally secured between said pair of guide flanges.
 3. A post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade as claimed in claim 2 wherein said post connector and said guide flanges provides for pitch adjustment of said post received in said connector, said pair of guide flanges being provided with arresting means to arrest said post connector at a desired angle between said pair of guide flanges.
 4. A post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade as claimed in claim 3 wherein said guide flanges are each provided with an arcuate outer edges extending from said flat attachment base plate to a right angle rear connecting wall, said arresting means being provided by serrations formed along said arcuate outer edge in transverse alignment with one another to constitute spaced-apart pairs of serrations, said post connector being a tubular connector having opposed connector pins projecting from opposed sides thereof for removal engagement with selected ones of said pairs of serrations, a pair of opposed vertical slots in said opposed sides of said tubular connector spaced below said connector pins for the passage of a pivot pin therethrough and connected between said guide flanges.
 5. A post support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flat attachment base plate is a metal plate of triangular shape and defined by integrally formed flat metal arms, there being a straight arm and a pair of angled arms extending from a respective end of said straight arm to an apex area of said triangular shape base, said central connecting arm extending from said apex area to mid-length of said straight arm and defining an extension portion beyond said straight arm, said slots of said central connecting arm being provided in said extension portion, and wherein said straight arm on opposed sides of said central arm constitutes said side connecting arms.
 6. A post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade as claimed in claim 5 wherein said post support assembly is connected to said central connecting arm with said pair of guide flanges extending from said apex area and along a portion of said central connecting arm.
 7. A post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade as claimed in claim 1 wherein said safety rail barricade is a roof barricade comprised of at least two of said post supports and two of said posts, each said post having one or more brackets for supporting a rail therebetween, said inclined slots in said side connecting arms having their open ends along a lower edge of said pair of opposed side connecting arms and along a side edge of said central connecting arm.
 8. A post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade as claimed in claim 1 wherein said predetermined distance is substantially equal to a roof shingle flap width whereby to receive in said inclined slots roofing nails used to secure asphalt shingles and with said nails disposed in said slots of one of said side connecting arms into a roof sheeting material with said nails in said connecting arm being concealed by flaps of a shingle sheet secured thereover on said roof sheeting.
 9. A post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade as claimed in claim 8 wherein said central connecting arm is secured along a side edge of said roof sheeting material by roofing nails, said connecting arm extending under an outer side portion of said shingle sheet.
 10. A post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade as claimed in claim 8 wherein said central connecting arm is secured over said roof sheeting material by roofing nails, said connecting arm extending under said shingle sheet.
 11. A post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade as claimed in claim 7 in combination with a flat elevated roof or platform, said flat attachment base plate of said at least two of said supports being secured on said flat elevated roof adjacent outer edges of said flat roof or platform, said post connector being angulated transversely to said base plate wherein to support posts therein, and at least one rail between pairs of said posts, said rail being supported by said one or more brackets.
 12. A post support assembly for an adjustable safety rail barricade as claimed in claim 7 in combination with a flat elevated roof or platform, said platform having an outer vertical peripheral side wall, said flat attachment base plate of said at least two of said post supports being secured to said outer vertical peripheral side wall with said side connecting arms aligned along an outer edge of said flat elevated roof or platform, said post connector being angulated to lie substantially parallel to said base plate wherein to support posts extending transversely upwards of said flat elevated roof or platform, and at least one rail between pairs of said posts, said rail being supported by said one or more brackets. 